Self-confidence

We've been saying it since The Body Optimist was founded: self-confidence is your greatest asset, ladies ! You might say, "Easier said than done!" And you're absolutely right... Self-confidence has many facets and is a lifelong journey . In this dedicated section, you'll find advice, current topics, and also testimonials from men and women who have decided to accept themselves and, even more, to celebrate themselves just as they are.

Building self-confidence: tips from the editorial team

Through our life experiences, we don't always manage to analyze our reactions. But by taking a step back, we understand that it's "simply" a lack of self-confidence. And faced with this realization, we find ourselves lost . Where to begin? What should we do? Will it be long and difficult? What will be the outcome of all this? Just like you, we learn self-confidence every day, and we believe it's essential to delve into fundamental questions in order to find answers. We are well aware that every human being is different. But above all, we want to help you move forward by offering you several keys. It's up to you to open the door... To help you with this, we offer articles with tips and tricks. For example, how to overcome body image issues at the beach? Many of us dread summer and the infamous "swimsuit ordeal." But we remind you of your worth through articles like " 7 unexpected advantages of being a curvy woman ." We also know that a lack of self-confidence can be caused by others . So, we'll explain how to embrace your curves when those around you tell you to lose weight . Similarly, we also address the health aspect, because we understand that excess weight has a history . In this article, we delved into the sensitive issue of "eating to fill a void, how to stop". The website isn't the only resource available to you. You can also participate in discussions on our forum . It's a safe, judgment-free space entirely dedicated to you. We've already featured testimonials from some of our readers in discussions on topics such as "Does taking photos help with self-acceptance?" and "Is self-confidence enough to boost your libido?"

The floor given to women and men

Learning to have confidence in yourself also involves reading testimonials from people who have already embarked on this journey. And, to our great delight, there are many of them ! Social media is a veritable goldmine of body positivity, where inspiring stories are constantly being shared. Take the example of this young bride who decided to tell off all the people who told her to lose weight before the big day, or this extremely self-conscious young woman who feels better than ever since she started posting photos of her curves on Instagram . We also give men a voice. Because, contrary to popular belief, insecurities aren't just a woman's issue—quite the opposite ! We recently told you the story of an obese man who fell into depression after his divorce, but pulled himself out of that hell thanks to sports and his newfound self-confidence. We also remember the story of a man with gynecomastia who decided to embrace his "man breasts" for the world to see . Here too, we come to the health aspect. Indeed, it's not uncommon for bariatric surgery to fail for some patients . Instead of torturing themselves, they then decide to love themselves as they are and feel much better for it . Some have also decided to stop their pre-operative process to focus instead on what they consider essential: self-love as they are . We reiterate, for us, all women are beautiful and deserve to be represented and celebrated. Regardless of their weight, height, color, origin, or disability . We were particularly moved by the story of Imene Boudj, a paraplegic model from Toulouse. Of course, we also don't hesitate to speak out ! Self-confidence is already difficult to achieve and we refuse to let anyone, like shop assistants, destroy all the work of acceptance you have started.

Self-confidence: does society help us or not?

While some saleswomen are admittedly insensitive, can we say that this is true of all our fellow human beings? We don't think so, because we really dislike generalizations . Instead, we strive to study society's reactions to all topics related to self-confidence. And again, there are many! Take men, for example. Did you know that 20% of them hide during sex for a specific reason ? At the same time, a large majority of them prefer dating a curvy woman who loves herself! Ultimately, everything seems to come together when it comes to self-confidence ... And if you thought only ordinary people suffered from a lack of confidence, you were wrong! What if we told you that even the biggest stars have insecurities? And we bet you'd be very, very surprised to learn which ones! At the same time, we are well aware of the complicated situations that people lacking confidence can experience and we do not hesitate to speak out ! Recently, we published a rant with the theme: " Fat people are the last people you can insult with impunity ". Remember to keep smiling; you should never be too serious in life . We also like to use humor to talk about self-confidence, for example, through our "20 VDM" (Life Sucks) stories about curvy women. Similarly, we love giving a voice to personalities committed to the body positivity movement . For instance, you can discover Laurence Boccolini's 12 commandments for happiness or the 10 facts every woman should know. As you've probably gathered, self-confidence is a daily practice and, above all, a completely personal journey . You mustn't let anything or anyone influence it, unless it's in a positive way. Feel free to write to us on the forum or comment on and share all the articles you find in the "Self-Confidence" section of your magazine ! We love you, girls, and you're beautiful!